ROME, SEP 20 - Member States' reactions to the nominations: AUSTRIA: According to a press release, Magnus Brunner, a candidate for Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration said: "It is an honour for me to have been given the portfolio for internal security and migration in the EU Commission by President Ursula Von der Leyen. This area is central to the future and functioning of the European Union." Austria has taken a clear position on internal security in Europe and is successfully combating illegal migration. "We face major challenges, but also opportunities to strengthen Europe's values and security." BELGIUM: Belgium's Hadja Lahbib got the Preparedness and Crisis Management portfolio. Lahbib, who entered into politics only two years ago and immediately became Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be responsible for leading the European efforts on crisis management and humanitarian aid. Lahbib will also be responsible for equality policy. "Her portfolio reflects her political career," von der Leyen said.
The most heard reaction in Belgium is that Lahbib will not be able to exert much political influence with the competences she was handed. And that is because the country waited until the very last minute to nominate Lahbib als Commissioner designate.
"Procrastination and haggling have unfortunately saddled Belgium with a weak portfolio," Green MEP Sara Matthieu reacted. "It is high time for Belgian politicians to start appreciating the post of European Commissioner better." BULGARIA: Ekaterina Zaharieva, designated for the position of Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said her portfolio is incredibly important. She expressed gratitude to von der Leyen and to the Bulgarian Government for the confidence she was entrusted with and added that she is aware of the scope of her responsibility. She said: "The portfolio that Bulgaria received is one of the portfolios of the future. It is extremely important and at the heart of the current and the next Commission." CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech MEPs in Strasbourg were expressing both satisfaction and disappointment after Ursula von der Leyen announced that she intends to entrust the Czech representative Jozef Sikela with international partnership and development aid issues in the new European Commission.
While politicians in the government camp are talking about the strongest portfolio ever held by a Czech commissioner, it is not only opposition lawmakers who consider energy or trade to be stronger portfolios, which have been suggested. "No Czech commissioner has ever had such a strong portfolio," said Tomas Zdechovsky, member of the European People's Party (EPP), assessing von der Leyen's decision. Communist MEP Katerina Konecna described the portfolio as a slap in the face for Czechia. "Mr Sikela will just do the dirty work for Brussels again, which is what our government is used to," she said.
PORTUGAL: "We emphasise the crucial portfolio assigned to Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque, nominated by Portugal," Prime Minister Luís Montenegro wrote in a statement. Maria Luís Albuquerque will take up the post of the Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union. "This is essential for progress, for the sustainability of Europe's social and economic project, and for the Union's ability to meet the expectations, needs and interests of European and Portuguese citizens." SLOVENIA: Slovenia has been assigned the enlargement portfolio by the new European Commission, one that it has always had an interest in. "The enlargement portfolio is proof that Slovenia is valued and respected in the international community," said Prime Minister Robert Golob immediately after the announcement of von der Leyen's decision, describing it as a historic achievement. "Slovenia is taking on a responsible task." "Marta Kos is entrusted with the key to ensuring stability and peace in our immediate neighbourhood and beyond, and how to contribute to stabilising both the Western Balkans and the Eastern neighbourhood through the European idea," he said.
Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon also welcomed the allocation of the portfolio to Slovenia.
SPAIN: The Spanish government reacted with great enthusiasm to Teresa Ribera's nomination for the Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.
"It is a huge success for Spain. It is the most important portfolio that a Spaniard has ever had in the European Commission," government sources told Spanish press agency EFE, who consider that Von der Leyen gives the Spanish socialist the "most relevant" one and "entrusts her with the key policies for the structural transformation that she has set as an objective", based on the reports prepared by the former Italian prime ministers Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi.
SWEDEN: The information that Sweden's Jessika Roswall will be in charge of environment, water resilience and circular economy came as a surprise, since the Swedish rightwing government rather has been aiming for something to do with productivity or competitiveness. Green and leftist opposition parties are wondering how Roswall will act to support for instance the nature restoration law that the Swedish government fiercely and actively tried to stop. "I hope that she will take her new role seriously and work for Europe as a whole, even though it might mean working against the Swedish government," says Green's MEP Alice Bah Kuhnke.
(The content is based on news by agencies participating in the enr, in this case APA, ANSA, Belga, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE, Europa Press, LUSA, STA, TT).
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
